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December 20, 2014

Our lives have been in great turmoil and transition since early in the year.Many of you know this through Facebook and our blog.We have tried to make the best decisions for our family but unfortunately, some of the largest ones were not so good.Our bad business decisions have crippled us financially.It was the decision of starting and trying to expand our car mechanic business that pushed us into a free fall.Like many things it was not all bad. God showed us much through the experience but in the end we lost all of the little money we had. We have been praying in earnest for months about the next steps we should take and as many of you know, Michael has gone back to school to start a new career in nursing.This was through a long discernment process during the spring and summer.We knew this would be a huge sacrifice for our family but we chose it because we knew it would be best in the long run.

We have to be out of our house by the end of January and are not sure where we will be able to go yet. Adrianne and the children may have to stay with her mother in Maine for a few months so we can save money.Through our prayer s we have seen that we need to humble ourselves.So many of you, our friends, have asked what can be done to help.We didn’t know what we could ask for but we know we needed to ask for help and be willing to take what people could give.We know many of you are in tight financial situations.But still we would like to ask you to donate to our family.No amount is too small in helping to alleviate some of the great pressure we are under.We would like to at least pay off one of our essential bills: heat, electric, phone or rent (they are sadly beyond our means).It will help us get a fresh start when we move into a new apartment.

We are so grateful for any help you can give us.God has always provided for us and we know He will continue to do so.Please pass this on to as many people as you feel comfortable with in order to help our family.Thank you and God bless you all.

April 13, 2014

Our family loves our family traditions - Easter brunch, baskets, egg hunts. We discovered we could still have a traditions, but make them healthy for our family. We decided to change things for the better this year.
﻿

Dried fruits in Easter Basket

What did we do?

We made our Easter Baskets and held an Easter egg hunt with healthy choices. And guess what? Our children loved the Easter Baskets and Easter egg fillings just as much as any other year!

How did we do it?

We gave them mostly Dollar Tree toys and garden supplies. Yes, they also got treats. What did we add to their baskets? They got dried fruit, a few pieces of dark chocolate covered mango, a Larabar, and fruit leather. (Side note: My children love Larabars and they don't get them because they are too expensive.) What about Easter eggs? We added stickers, coins (pennies, dimes and nickels), balloons, wrapped prunes, raisins, organic fruit snacks, and a few other toys.

This is what our children's Easter baskets looked like:

We did have a little more sweets in the house than normal, and I would have added a chocolate bunny except they got one from a family friend. We decided that we were not going to make the holiday about sweets, because they always stay around longer than we want. We really don't want the children eating sweets. The less there is in the house the better it is for everyone.

How did your family do this Easter? Add your comments below and let us know what you did!

March 29, 2014

Early on in our homeschool journey we found Irish Step Dancing. Adriana has been dancing for four year. ﻿﻿

James and his dance partner and friend, Greta

This is James' second year dancing.

Most likely Thomas will begin dancing next year. It is a lot of fun and daddy dances around the house with them.

James and Thomas with some friends.

﻿﻿﻿﻿This is our dance season. We have a number of shows thought the year but most come around St. Patrick's day. We had 6 shows in two and half weeks. On top of the shows we add extra Irish Step classes to get ready for the shows.

March 27, 2014

Sundays are sometimes like lent in our house. Daddy works six days a week and we have one day to reconnect. By the end of day Sundays Daddy is thinking about work again. This is not enough time to reconnect never mind get much of anything done.

When we have a Funday Sunday I get so excited.

Tree Tapping

This Sunday was a Funday Sunday. We enjoyed leaning about maple sugaring at Sweet Water Sugar in Royalston Massachusetts. James learned that you can use a machine to make (well heat) the sap from the tree. The sap becomes maple syrup. Thomas learned you can make maple syrup jelly with the maple syrup. Adriana learned that you can make maple syrup soda! She also learned all the steps like tapping the trees and heating the sap until it gets to a certain temperature becoming maple syrup.

Can you see the long line coming down the hill into the giant barrel.
(double click the picture to enlarge)

From tapping to outdoor storage.

Filtering all the bad stuff and dirt out.

Then heating to 190* and pouring off

Finally the pour the filtered syrup into jugs, Yummy!

Mama loved the whole process. The farm had a whole line of trees tapped and a huge bucket out side of the shed coming into the shed to heat up. Watching the whole process was awesome.

{Happy}﻿

Adriana's eyes are smiling! ﻿

Tasting the maple syrup! oh-ya

After the maple sugaring we went to the Quabbin for a family hike. We enjoy Sunday family hikes. We hiked to a shore where James, Thomas and daddy climbed a dead tree and Adriana through rocks into the water while Mama took picture.

It was a beautiful day ended with dinner and a rosary.

Does your family have any Funday Sunday traditions!

{Real}

James stepped into a puddle on our hike out of the Quabbin. Their is something dramatic on every Funday trip.

February 18, 2014

This is a new blog I just started. I am not totally abandoning this blog but it has been a long time since I last updated it. I am starting a blog about my journey and my families journey through a pregnancy after we loss Peter. Hope you join us on this journey.

December 16, 2012

Merry Christmas once again! This week we will enjoy putting up our Christmas tree, Adriana singing in a Christmas concert and a La Posada. We hope your advent is bringing you closer to Christ. This advent is the best and hardest advent for our family. We have grown so much in the past weeks. Our family letters are usually full of joy and this letter will also be full of joy, but we have to share some sad news. On November 26th, 2012 we lost our unborn baby, Peter Francis at almost 38 weeks pregnant. God blessed us with being able to spend 24 hours with Peter Francis. We are sad, but we also know God has His hand in all things. Our children are learning how to except God's will and deal with death, but we appreciate your prayers for their continued healing. Please also pass on your prayer requests because we have much to offer for our suffering. Contact us either on Facebook or by e-mail: ajniall@hotmail.com. By the grace of God each of us has grown so much this year. Our family highlights for this year include mom and the children taking a month long trip to Missouri and back visiting many famous sites and also many friends we have not seen in a long time. We visited Amanda and the boys in January, went on many family hikes, joined a homeschooling co-op (families teaching together), and went on lots of field trips. We hope to find you and your family well this Christmas and New Year.

Michael has been working really hard to grow our family business, My Mobile Mechanic Inc. He hired a new mechanic this summer. He still loves his running even if he isn't able to run as much. This year was better for health, thanks be to God. Please pray for the healing of Michael's back. A mechanic can't work with a bad back! Thank you in advance. Adrianne is continuing to do all her motherly duties. She is working to be a more peaceful person and more loving mother. She really enjoyed driving this summer and visiting so many of her friends. She really enjoys teaching history, especially American history. Some of her favorite sites on her trip were Gettysburg, Williamsburg, historical Philadelphia, many of the state capitals, and so much more. She continues to be blessed by God and feels amazingly blessed and supported by the community we live in.

Adriana (8) took her first horseback riding lessons this summer. She was a natural and hopes to go again soon. She really enjoyed our trip to Missouri. She loved learning and seeing the Abe Lincoln sites. Her favorite site on the trip was Jefferson Expansion Gateway Arch Tower in St. Louis, MO. She loved going to the top of the arch. She, like her mother, really enjoys planning. She planned her birthday party months in advance. The best part was, after all her planning, she enjoyed every minute of her birthday. She loves the summer and enjoyed swimming and drama camp most. She was really looking forward to having a new sibling. She prayed for a girl but lovingly held Peter has much as she could in the 24 hours he was with us. She asks a lot of question about Peter's death. She is sad at times but she understands God's will and is glad to know a saint in heaven.

James (4) is lovingly known as our little nerd. He is in preschool and his teacher would be happy to just let him play with his little brother, but he insists on learning. He is learning his letters, sounds, shapes, numbers, and colors. He loves to make pictures. He is our little artist. For his birthday he received a Mass set and he loves to say Mass for the family. James' most memorable quote (after seeing Fr. Peter and Fr. Anthony co-celebrating Mass), "Mama can Fr. Peter and Fr. Anthony come over to say mass with me?" He really loves playing with Lego's and other toys in the playroom. Like his sister has favorite place on our trip was the Jefferson Expansion Gateway Arch. We look forward to seeing how James blossoms this year!

Thomas (2) has grown so much over this past year. He is very mischievous and we lovingly call him either "Thomas Naughty Niall" or "Thomas the Terror." He still loves to sing and dance. He is always singing the Alleluia during Mass (even when it is not that part of the Mass). He has recently started talking in full sentences. Even when he is mischievous his cuteness keeps him from getting in too much trouble. He has started to say "hello" to Our Lord as we drive past churches. He has also started being a loving cuddly little boy. Thomas' quote of the year after watching Fr. Peter dump a huge basket of candy on the table - "Fr. Peter dump it!"Wishing you and your family a Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year!!! Love, Michael, Adrianne, Adriana, James and Thomas Niall

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Daddy deNiall

Michael deNiall is the head of our family. He is a loving husband and father. Leading us on our path to heaven.

Mama deNiall

Adrianne deNiall passionate about blogging! Love to share what we are doing. Hope you enjoy our family Adventures.

deNiall Isle

We are deNiall (Niall) Family. A loving Catholic homeschooling family trying to make our way to heaven. We are so imperfect and sometimes in a state of deNiall but always striving to be Saintly and sharing those struggles. We have been blessed with three of the most active and adorable children, one saint in heaven and one on the way. We can't help but share the journey on our island. We would love for you to journey with us!!! We also share our emotional rollercoaster after the death of our little saint Peter at deNiall Isle Post Peter. Visit both our islands. Don't be shy let us know how you like us. Thanks for visiting. God Bless!!!